Before Travelling

Documents:

All visitors must have an onward ticket to a destination outside the Netherlands Antilles and a confirmed room reservation before arriving. Tourists may stay for up to three months with a valid passport. Those intending to stay more than 90 days must apply for a visa.

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US citizens do not need a passport; a birth certificate, alien registration card or naturalization papers are sufficient. Canadians must have a valid passport or birth certificate. Transit visitors and cruise ship visitors must have proof of identity for a 24-hour, or less, stay on the island. Immigration procedures at the airport are quick and easy.

Hospitals:

The Hospitaal San Francisco in Kralendijk has 60 beds, T7178900. There is an air ambulance for emergency evacuation and a recompression chamber for scuba diving accidents. The emergency phone number is T191. There is a dentist at Chirino Dental Clinic, T7178106. Opticians at Optica Antillana, T7178815, and Ram’s Optica, T7175612. For hearing aids and dentures, Oraid Hearing Instruments, T7178850.

Voltage:

127 volts, 50 cycles. 220 volts available at some resorts.

Departure Tax:

There is a departure tax of US$6 (NAf 10) on local flights and US$20 (NAf 36) on international flights.

Banks:

Open 0800 or 0830-1530 or 1600, Mon-Fri, a few close for lunch. All have ATMs. TCs and credit cards are widely accepted. ABN Amro, T7178417, F7178469; Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (Bonaire) NV, T7177249, F7172645, with a branch in Rincon, T7176266; Antilles Banking Corporation Bonaire, T7174500, F7174510; Banco di Caribe NV, T7178295, F7175153.

Hours of Business:

Shops: Open 0800-1200 and 1400-1800, Monday-Saturday, or until 2100 on Friday, and for a few hours on Sunday if cruise ships are in port. Supermarkets are open 0800-2000 and some on Sunday 1100-1400.

Tipping:

10-15% in restaurants, which is often added automatically to the bill. Tax is 10%. Dive shops 10%.

Public Holidays:

New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Monday, Queen’s Birthday and Rincon Day (30 April), Labour Day (1 May), Ascension Day, Bonaire Day (6 September), Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Carnival takes place over about six weeks from the end of January to the beginning of March, with parades, jump-ups and the election of King and Queen of the Carnival and ‘Prince and Pancho’. Several days are devoted to the Tumba festival, a Tumba being a winning song. Carnival is organized by the Fundashon Karnival Boneiru (Fukabo). Dates for the main adult parade are 25 February 2001, 10 February 2002, 2 March 2003, 22 February 2004, 6 February 2005.

Places of Worship:

Roman Catholic, San Bernardo Church, Kralendijk, T8304, Our Lady of Coromoto, Antriol, T7174211, or San Ludovico Church, Rincon; United Protestant Church, T7178086; Evangelical Alliance Mission, T7176245; Jehovah’s Witnesses, Antriol; New Apostolic Church, Nikiboko, T7178483; Seventh Day Adventist Church, T7174254.

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